A fortune-telling princess Chapter 187

“You couldn’t say a word to your own family, yet…”

That’s what made Juella torment Camilla all the more. She lashed out with sarcastic remarks and picked fights at every opportunity.

“Maybe I wasn’t picking on you, but myself.”

All that mocking and sneering—maybe it had all been aimed at herself more than at Camilla.

Juella mumbled to herself bitterly, then suddenly stopped and stared directly at Camilla. Then she spoke bluntly.

“You’re so annoying.”

“…Hey, that’s my line.”

What kind of shameless reverse accusation was this? Who was she calling annoying?

“You’re off being cool all on your own.”

What kind of cheesy line was that? Well… Camilla was kind of cool, but still. Where’d that come from?

“That’s what makes it worse.”

Camilla let out a stunned laugh.

“Well, I find you annoying too.”

“I know.”

Juella dusted off her clothes and stood up.

Had she just needed someone to talk to about what she was going through? Her face looked lighter now than it had before.

“My father told me to stay on your good side, so I’m pretending to be friendly. I know it’s pathetic. I’m not doing it because I want to, so just bear with me.”

With a sharp tone, she tossed out the comment and walked past Camilla.

“…Wow.”

She really left Camilla speechless.

“We’re so not compatible.”

It was absurd, but strangely, Camilla didn’t feel angry this time.

Because, annoyingly enough—she completely understood.

Cluck.

Camilla clicked her tongue lightly as she watched Juella disappear down the path.

***

“You’ve received a reply from Lady Camilla.”

“Really?”

Prince Abihale quickly took the letter his attendant handed him and tore it open with a faint smile—only for his expression to quickly harden as he read.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The sound of him clicking his tongue over and over made it clear his mood had turned foul. Sensing this, the attendant quietly left the room.

Alone now, Abihale didn’t bother to hide his irritation.

“She used to chase after me so much…”

And now she acted high and mighty, just because her status had risen?

It was true her position had changed significantly, but that didn’t mean he was willing to accept such ridiculous rejections forever.

“It’s not like I ever cared in the first place.”

Initially, it had been his mother’s command.

She’d told him to bring Camilla over to their side, so he had reluctantly agreed. But he hadn’t liked it at all.

The memory of her once gloomy, obsessive self annoyed him.

Had she not been from a ducal house, he wouldn’t have even acknowledged her existence.

“She really has changed a lot.”

But the Camilla he saw recently was nothing like before. Even her appearance had changed.

She had always stood out visually, but back then he hadn’t felt a single attraction. Even looking at her had felt burdensome.

“Why did I feel that way?”

Even he didn’t understand why he’d been so repulsed. That feeling was gone now.

“Plus…”

Crown Prince Edsen.

For the first time, his brother had reacted to something he did.

“Is this your idea?”

“Excuse me?”

“I heard Mother’s trying to arrange a marriage between you and Lady Camilla. Was bringing her in your plan?”

His brother, who normally ignored everything he did, had finally shown hostility.

Honestly, it had been shocking—and strangely thrilling.

Learning that touching Camilla could rattle Edsen sparked Abihale’s curiosity. What had started as obligation turned into genuine interest.

“But…”

The problem was her.

She kept refusing his letters requesting a meeting.

Because of the Duke of Sorpel, he couldn’t press too hard either. It wouldn’t do to provoke someone like that.

“I guess I’ll have to go see her in person.”

That level of sincerity was warranted.

Now that she carried the value of a ‘Saintess,’ he was willing to make the effort to bring her over to his side.

Having her would be highly advantageous.

“Although… I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“…!”

A low voice from an unfamiliar man rang out.

Startled, Abihale quickly turned his head—only to find a man wearing a gray mask standing near the window, watching him.

The man smiled.

Just seeing that smile made Abihale’s skin crawl.

“I wouldn’t pull that cord, if I were you.”

Abihale’s hand froze just short of the bell rope. Anyone who could sneak this deep into the imperial palace wasn’t ordinary.

There was no need to ask who he was. Clearly, he was an enemy.

“I’ve been hired for a job.”

As expected.

But by who? Who would hire someone to assassinate him?

My brother?

Or someone from his faction?

Abihale took a step back, full of suspicion and wariness.

He didn’t dare shout. If the man wanted, he could drive that dagger into his heart before a sound left his lips.

“The client had only one request: to deliver a warning.”

“A warning? What…”

“Lady Camilla.”

“Camilla?”

He stepped back again as the masked man drew nearer.

“Leave her alone.”

“…!”

“If you keep pestering her, next time won’t be just a warning.”

The word “pestering” pierced Abihale’s ears.

He swallowed hard.

“So it was my brother?”

It had to be. Who else would send a threat over Lady Camilla?

“That’s not it… Though it seems the Crown Prince does care for her quite a bit.”

The man’s grin twisted unpleasantly.

“Plenty of annoying people getting in the way already. And now the royal brothers are at it too…”

He muttered darkly, then stepped in closer—face just inches from Abihale’s.

Still frozen, Abihale couldn’t react.

“The client is…”

Was he about to reveal who it was?

“…Me.”

“…What?”

The answer was so unexpected, Abihale blurted it out without thinking.

What was this man saying? That he was the one who commissioned the warning?

“If you’d like to see me again, feel free to ignore this. I’ll take off the mask next time.”

He plunged his dagger into the wall with a thud. It sank in like it was soft butter.

Abihale flinched.

A quiet voice whispered in his ear.

“I have no problem showing my face to a man about to die.”

With that, the man took a polite step back and gave a low, formal bow.

But Abihale could only cower further in response.

“I sincerely hope we don’t meet again.”

And just like that—he vanished.

Thud.

Abihale collapsed into his chair, too shaken to call for help.

His gaze remained fixed on the dagger embedded in the wall.

Shiver…

His body began to tremble again.

****

“What’s with the teddy bear?”

Chris stopped mid-step as he entered the office and spotted Camilla sitting at her desk—with an unfamiliar object placed neatly on top.

It was a small teddy bear.

“A gift.”

She had received it at the gathering hosted by Juella.

Juella had proudly declared she made them herself and handed one out to everyone who attended.

“But why’d you bring it here?”

Camilla didn’t seem like the type to carry around stuffed animals, even if they were gifts.

“What do you think?”

She turned the bear so Chris could get a better look. Its little dot eyes stared straight at him.

“…It’s cute.”

“That’s it?”

What kind of answer was she expecting?

Adjusting his glasses, Chris leaned in to examine it more closely.

Nothing stood out—except maybe…

“The clothes are quite elaborate.”

“Exactly. Fancy clothes, right?”

Smiling faintly, Camilla stared intently at the bear again.

Then she set it down and stood up.

“I’m stepping out.”

“Where to?”

She paused for a moment—then answered, slightly delayed.

“…A friend’s house.”

***

“We’ve arrived, my lady.”

“Thanks.”

Camilla stepped down from the carriage and quickly scanned her surroundings.

Her destination: the estate of House Bakes—Juella’s family.

“Hm?”

Just then, a crowd of people hurriedly entered through the gates.

Seeing their haste, a knowing smile played at Camilla’s lips.

“Where’s Juella?”

“She’s in her room.”

“Still sewing?”

“Probably…”

Cluck.

At the center of the rushing crowd was Count Bakes himself.

Face twisted in fury, he clicked his tongue repeatedly.

“She’s out of her mind. I set everything up so she could make a good impression, and she hands out stuffed animals as gifts?”

He had only just heard about what happened at Juella’s gathering.

He knew she was a bit short-sighted—but giving teddy bears as gifts?

“Absolutely pathetic.”